Shahbeigi Saeed, Sepehry Amir Ali and Oger Joel
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of unknown etiology that affects the Central Nervous System
(CNS) where autoimmune-mediated mechanisms are thought to be at work. There are two possible options for
treating MS, to prevent damage, and to repair the already impaired CNS. Stem Cells (SC) therapy emerges as a
potential new hope for MS patients as it could accomplish both functions. There is a growing body of literature that
supports the potential of the SC for immunomodulation and re-myelination. Here we focus on examining the
registered published and on-going clinical trials using the Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) therapy in MS. We have
found that a total of 85 patients were enrolled in 9 cell-base studies with encouraging results. These studies were
not statistically analyzed; however, they showed safety of the MSC therapy. Based on the results emerging from
these patients, who failed to respond to even immunosuppressive drugs, clinical improvement was observed in 62%,
a stable course in 22%; and 16% remaining in a progressive course. Given the evidence, we support that cell-based
therapies are safe and reasonable to initiate a double blind, randomized controlled trials. This would represent a
new and unique therapeutic approach for the progressive forms of MS.
